Borbory Boys close off a good year

Borbury FC – 5 . . . Draperstown Celtic Reserves – 1

(Coleraine & District League – Morning Division 1)

The Borbury saw in the close of 2023 in fine fettle with a win over local rivals Draperstown Celtic Reserves at Meadowbank. The final score did little to reflect the hard work that the DC Lads put into the game having been firmly in the game until the last fifteen minutes when the young Borbury side pulled away through three quick fire goals in three minutes to secure the win.

The second half goals complimented some fine work by the Boys in the first half where after a feisty start saw magic man Mackle convert a penalty on 12 minutes having been fouled inside the box himself. Gathering himself he converted clinically.

Next up was Logan Farrelly converting directly from a Jack Conway pass to cooly slot home on 30 minutes to make it 2-0. Still DC didn’t lose heart and earned a penalty on 45 minutes with DC Captain Ryan McGuigan steeping up to finish under pressure to make it 2-1 Borbury going into the interval.

With the DC Lads growing in confidence beginning to produce some concerted pressure particularly with Ruairi O’Kane’s clever movement, the introduction of fresh legs in Captain Euan McBride, Ben Diamond and Aaron Murray saw the home side reassert themselves. On 76 minutes McBride, latched onto an assist by Ronan McKenna to finish with style & aplomb for 3-1.

This was quickly followed by two goals from Martin Mackle to secure his hat trick including another penalty, again having drawn the initial foul and with his final goal displaying calmness personified to put him on seventeen competitiveness goals for the season. Additional security in seeing out the game was cemented with Borbury’s Jamie McEldowney and Joe Heron entering the fray.

Best of luck to and all credit to Draperstown Celtic as no doubt the infusion of emerging talent playing alongside experienced heads bodes well for the Club with Nathan Murphy at in defence and debutant Tristian Caulfield catching the eye.

In what has been a good year for the Borbury Boys in gaining automatic promotion in their first full season, scoring 150 goals over the club’s short history it was time to relax after some good charity work for Movember where the Club raised over £300.00 for mental health charities. As is becoming tradition the Boys headed to Belfast and the Christmas Market to celebrate the festive season.

The Club and Committee wish all our supporters, alumni and sponsors a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. Thanks to all for believing in the Boys and the Borbury project, where we hope to continue to put a smile on faces and provide an entertaining brand of football in 2024.